Cleaning and maintaining your home’s gutters is not the most exciting task on your to-do list, which is why it’s the easiest one to overlook. While there are no actual ‘rules’ on how often you should clean your gutters, putting off this chore for too long might lead to a whole bunch of problems for your home.
Here’s What Happens When You Forget To Clean Your Gutters
Aside from looking filthy and ruining the visual appeal of your home, unclean and ill-maintained gutters can cause a lot more damage. If you wait too long to fix the problem, it will cost you a lot of time and your hard-earned money to correct the problem.
Water Leakage
When your gutter gets clogged with leaves or other debris, it creates a blockage. As this blockage builds up, it prevents the natural flow of water.
This can damage your gutter, cause water to overflow, or stop draining out entirely.
Mould
Speaking of leaves piling up in your gutters. If they aren’t cleared out quickly, they become the perfect environment for mould and mildew growth. This will leave your gutters looking awful and could even creep into your home. When mould spores enter your home, they can cause respiratory problems or other health issues for you and your family.
Home Damage
All the effort you’ve put into getting this lovely home will go down the drain (no pun intended!) when water begins to overflow. This causes debris to accumulate in your gutters. The weight can become too much to handle, causing your gutters to rip – pulling some of your roof’s shingles down with it.
What’s more, clogged gutters can also destroy your driveway and lawn. Water overflows can make walking paths and driveways slippery in the cold months and mouldy during the warmer months.
Pests
When leaves decompose, it attracts bugs and other critters. This is because decomposing organic matter is rich in nutrients and is an excellent food source for these pests. These pests cause infestations in your home and severe damage to your gutters.
Knowing When It’s The Right Time To Clean
As important as it is to know how often gutters should be cleaned, it’s equally important to know when you need to do it too.
Here are a few signs to look for if you’re wondering when and how often gutters should be cleaned.
- Their age: Typically, gutters only last between 15 to 20 years before needing replacing. So the older they are, the more attention you must give them.
- Water pooling on lawns and driveways: If there are puddles of water in these areas, it might indicate that your gutters aren’t draining water correctly.
- Water leakage inside your home: If you need help figuring out where the leakage comes from, consider looking at your gutters. If they are cracked or clogged up, it’s time to clean them out!
How Often Gutters Should Be Cleaned
Homes with very few trees can get away with cleaning their gutters once a year, while others will need cleaning at least twice a year – enough to keep your gutters clean, mould-free and working correctly.
The Best Time To Clean Your Gutters
Spring: Spring is usually the season when it rains aplenty. So it goes without saying that it’s pretty important to ensure that your home’s gutters are free of leaves and that they don’t have any signs of damage to them. When you do a thorough cleaning, you will also be able to discover any tricky areas and resolve the issue before it becomes a big problem.
Autumn: Fall is the season when trees shed their old leaves before the winter chill. When leaves start falling rapidly, you should look at cleaning out your gutters as needed, especially before winter sets in. This will help prevent any problems that could occur during winter and will save you time and effort in spring.
The Best Ways To Clean Your Gutters
There are really only two options for cleaning your home’s gutters. Either you take on the task yourself or hire professional cleaners to do it for you.
DIY
Gutter cleaning isn’t a complicated task. All you need is a ladder, protective gear, and some water. However, be careful while doing so, as it can be exhausting and unsafe.
Here are some tips to help you clean your gutter efficiently:
- Use protective gear: Wearing protective gear like goggles, gloves and jackets will help keep debris out of your eyes, prevent cuts and scrapes, and will also keep you clean and dry!
- Get some help: Having someone around can help you stay safe and get the job done quicker than if you had to do it alone. Plus, it’s always fun to have some company, too, right?
- Get things in order: Gather all the essential tools and materials that you will need and keep them in an accessible area. This saves time, and you won’t have to keep going in and out of your home to procure them.
- Get rid of it asap: Ensure you dispose of all debris and leaves properly.
Hiring Professional Cleaners
The other, and less strenuous option, is to hire professional cleaners. Delegating the task to someone else will save you time, and you won’t have to deal with the icky wet leaves and dirty water!
In addition, professional cleaners know the best ways to clean gutters and can do so safely. They will also give you information about how often gutters should be cleaned and what you can do to maintain them in between cleanings.
Professional gutter cleaning doesn’t have to be expensive – and when you subscribe for seasonal cleanings, you will even get a pretty good deal too! If, during the cleaning, a complicated issue occurs, having those professional cleaners right there will save you a lot of money!
Give us a shot if you’re in the market for a reliable cleaning service! We will provide you with an unparalleled service that will put all your cleaning woes to rest!
